Watertown concert for Peace, Love and Healing, June 22

Wednesday

Jun 12, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 12, 2013 at 12:14 PM

On Saturday, June 22 at Watertown High School, Ray Mac & The Smooth Revue will be performing A Concert for Peace, Love and Healing in tribute to the victims and heroes of the Boston Marathon Tragedy. "This concert is an attempt to show our love and support as a community for everyone involved," says Newton firefighter Brian McNamara. “When the spotlight goes away and the adrenaline rush is over, that is when support is needed. I learned firsthand the healing that comes from continuous love and support from family and friends in the aftermath of a tragedy.”

On Saturday, June 22 at Watertown High School, Ray Mac & The Smooth Revue will be performing A Concert for Peace, Love and Healing in tribute to the victims and heroes of the Boston Marathon Tragedy. "This concert is an attempt to show our love and support as a community for everyone involved," says Newton firefighter Brian McNamara. “When the spotlight goes away and the adrenaline rush is over, that is when support is needed. I learned firsthand the healing that comes from continuous love and support from family and friends in the aftermath of a tragedy.”

The band includes 36 musicians from all over the country as well as Watertown residents Ray McNamara, Tony Vigna, Tom Collins, Tom Devaney, Brian Munger, Margot Oullet, Gary Robley, with a special appearance by 7 year old Casey Lee McNamara. Bagpipes will open the concert. Songs featured in the concert: The Beatles "Across the Universe"; "America" by Simon & Garfunkel, Us & Them by Pink Floyd, “Fix You” by Coldplay, Roy Orbison's "Crying", "Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World" and more.

Sponsored by the Jessica Locke Firefighters Fund, proceeds will benefit first responders affected by the events in Boston and Watertown. "There is a cost for heroism," says Jessica Locke, Executive Director. "These first responders, as we witnessed so recently, suppress their natural instincts of self-preservation,and put themselves in extremely stressful and dangerous situations. If we fail to recognize the effects of this exposure, it can lead to Post Traumatic Stress years later."

Locke has been been working with the firefighters of NYC since 9/11, and has witnessed the consequences of these traumatic events. Many NYC first responders who survived and dealt with the aftermath of 9/11, were left largely on their own to cope with their trauma. "They thought they should have been able to handle it," says Locke. Those “heroes” who suffered from severe PTSD and chose to self-medicate were terminated with no second chance to be rehabilitated. "These terminations, leaving these men with no pensions or healthcare, are disgraceful," Locke continued. "Firefighters and police officers are just as human and vulnerable as the rest of us. We cannot expect this intense outpouring of courage to maintain itself. There must be some effort to replenish the emotional and physical energy which is lost in their work."

The mission of the Jessica Locke Firefighters Fund is to provide rehabilitative support services to first responders who suffer silently from the physical and not so obvious psychological stress of their jobs. "Unfortunately there is still a stigma around seeking help, that it implies weakness," says Locke. "We provide a safe, confidential place for these first responders to talk, to feel restored and rejuvenated.”

Concert will be at Watertown H.S. 55 Columbia Street, Watertown MA 02472. Doors open at 7:00. Concert starts 7:30. $10 suggested donation. No one will be turned away because of inability to pay. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance: www.firefightersfund.org or contact Brian at 617-699-6480.